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Which is what he's concerned about. The county auctions off strays occasionally, usually one or two at a time. But this year he's seen an uptick in loose animals. And he's concerned that this is but the beginning: "It'll get worse this year because it's so hot and there's no hay," he says. "I worry that a lot of people are gonna turn 'em out because they can't feed 'em."

It's Stroud's job to round up the animals when they're called in. He spends much of his day in the car, waiting for the ring. I reached him out on the road. When I asked how he was doing, he said, with a small laugh, "The sun's beatin' me down like a brick." But he's got no choice: "Strays are a danger, a road hazard, so when they get out in the roadway and if we don't get 'em, somebody's gonna get hurt."

He says most of the animals auctioned off usually sell, and if they don't they get back in line. Because he's not about to put 'em down. Matter of fact, he's spent quite a bit of time putting some meat on those horses you see above, who, he says, have actually gained weight since they were found in May.

"Luckily there's a lot of good-hearted people out there, and they go to a good home," he says. "Some folks just want to take care of an animal; others want to keep coyotes and critters out of pastures. But either way's fine by me."

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